LEFTThegreateradjutantisvery
particularwhenit comestonesting.
It needslarge,broad-limbedtrees
withsparsefoliage– thesortthat
areoftenfoundonprivatelandand
ingardens.Butduetotheirmessy
feedinghabits,nottomentiontheir
scru y appearanceandassociation
withbadluck,thebirdshavefor
yearsbeenhighlyundesirableguests.
Landowners,oblivioustothespecies’
rarity,wouldfelltreestogetridof
them.Fortunately,attitudes are
starting to change.
BELOWThestorksnestcolonially
andselecttreesthatcansupport
severalfamilies,maintaining
thepersonalspacearoundtheir
dwellingswithaggressivedisplays
andjousting.Greateradjutants
arecreaturesofhabit,andreturn
to the same trees year after year.
PHOTO STORY GREATER ADJUTANT
56 BBC Wildlife August 2020